Page 14 - May-June2022 Vol 40 No 1

FOCUS ON: BARGE DESIGN SOLUTIONS INC. By Lisa Moore
Innovation, Inspiration, and Growth

The journey for Barge Design Solutions, trio exceeded its plan, more than doubling to open offices in Memphis, Tennessee,
Inc., (Barge) has been one of innovation, its goal for 1956. and Dothan, Alabama, while adding a
inspiration, and growth, creating a BWSC conducted business for 13 new planning and landscape architecture
strength that continues to move Barge years before engineer Bill Cannon was division to the firm. It was also the first of
employees, clients, and communities far named a principal of the firm in 1969, many Bridgestone/Firestone expansions to
into the future. With over 420 employees changing the company name to Barge, come the firm’s way, as well as a growing
across 16 offices in Tennessee, Alabama, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon, Inc. relationship with Huntsville’s Redstone
Georgia, Florida, and Ohio, Barge has The firm’s destiny for growth opened new Arsenal.
become an engineering and architectural opportunities, including design work for Offices in Miamisburg, Ohio;
leader in the industries it represents. a 300-acre, $20 million project known Birmingham, Alabama, and Chattanooga,
One Becomes Four as Opryland USA in Nashville, as well as Tennessee, were opening over the next few
While Barge continues to elevate its a second office in downtown Knoxville years to support local work in their cities.
services and reach, it is proud of its roots in 1972. Two more offices opened the Pivotal projects included work for NASA,
where it all began. Barge was founded following year in Tri-Cities, Tennessee, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and
in 1955 when Dan Barge, Jr. joined and Huntsville, Alabama. advisement with Nashville’s Metro Water
forces with Bill Waggoner of Waggoner Expansion Continues Services for a Unified Flood Preparedness
& Associates in Nashville, Tennessee. By 1975, BWSC made a staggering Plan for downtown Nashville.
It wasn’t long before Billy Summer, a 70-percent increase in profits for another Certified Great Place to Work®
stockholder in Waggoner’s firm, was record year. Project work continued to Project work continued to flourish
added to the team that same year. The flow in, including the 1982 World’s Fair with Nashville’s Music Center, Ryman
partners began doing business as “BWSC,” with 70 acres of design work between Auditorium, City of Knoxville, and
listing the name “Barge” first since it downtown Knoxville and the University of State of Tennessee clients in the mix.
would appear first in the phone book for Tennessee, bringing in 11 million visitors Bob Higgins, who began his career with
greater visibility. With hopes of bringing to Knoxville. BWSC as an engineering intern in 1996,
in $50,000 the first year of business, the Business was good, prompting BWSC stepped in to take the lead as President

14 TPW May/June 2022